Quote:
-The review at a glance-
Genre: Rock/electronic/industrial
Feeling: Post-apocalyptic, musical poetry
Rating: 9/10
Genre: Rock/electronic/industrial
Feeling: Post-apocalyptic, musical poetry
Rating: 9/10
Ok, I admit I’m a little slow to get into this band. They’ve been around for yonks and, from what I can tell, have a gazillion albums. I’ll be making my review based on the two albums I own (The newest: ‘Year Zero’ and also ‘With Teeth’) as well as random singles I’ve youtubed and liked (eg ‘we’re in this together’, ‘closer’ ‘head like a hole’ ‘Hurt’ etc)
For so long the rock magazine I’ve read, as well as seemingly most of the rock community, have described Trent Reznor- the lead singer and writer of the band, as a ‘genius’. He essentially created a new genre in rock – a sort of electronic/industrial and (I think) post-apocalyptic style of music. Often slow and at times droning in singing style, yet punctuated by the ferocious spirit/faster life that I love about rock, all of it’s music relies on layers of these electronic, gritty music. It’s both dirty and clean in sound – both raw and sculpted. Imagine ‘the matrix’, imagine ‘1984’, imagine ‘war of the worlds’ and you get a feeling of what Nine Inch Nails is like to listen to. They seem to not only create music, but create an environment.
I got into them through random songs other bands covered. For example, AFI’s cover of ‘head like a hole’, or Johnny cash’s brilliant cover of ‘Hurt’. As well as the stomping song ‘the hand that feeds’ that came with a free CD in my ‘Kerrang!’ (rock) magazine. Wherever you look Trent Reznor’s name seemed to pop up. Even when I randomly found a girly electronic-rock-pop Canadian band Jakalope, it boasted that parts of the music was written by Trent Reznor (which, looking back, is kind of funny since it’s a step away form the NIN music he does). Anyway, after a friend got ‘Year Zero’ I borrowed it.
At first? Not all that much took to me. It was a slower style then I was used to and seemed to take effort to listen to. You didn’t just slam it on for a boogie around lol. But it was an acquired taste. Once you get into it- you’re sort of hooked. And I tell you, it makes great background music, especially if you’re writing or drawing.
When I really got to love the album ‘Year zero’ I hunted on youtube for more songs and came across ‘Only’ (a great song biggrin ). Based on that song and (what I found in some sort of horror Jason tribute AMV lol) ‘you know what you are?’ I bought ‘with teeth’ which is also very good
So, I say that Nine Inch nails are well worth a look. If you’re prepared to take the time for them to grow on you – they’ll infect you like some alien fungal virus…but in a good way ^_~
Ratings wise, it honestly depends on what mood you’re in music-wise. I find I have to be in the right mood for NIN…but when I am, it’s a firm 9/10
Okie kokey, here’s my reviews/descriptions of the songs on the 2 albums I have (the oldest album I have first)
Quote:
With Teeth
1. All The Love In The World
A sort of droning/quiet/whining song at the beginning of the album, with a nice bit of keyboard in it. It starts off slow, as if in a dreamy state, and then erupts into a more yelled, stomping vocal over the top of it 2/3 of the way though. A nice introduction
2. You Know What You Are?
All fractured with fast drums, I can see why the guy on you tube I discovered this song through used it as a theme tune to a serial killer AMV. The whole thing sounds like a descent into insanity, with the screaming chorus of “Don’t you f***ing know what you are?!”
3. The Collector
Not one of my fave songs, but still pretty good. Classic NIN drums here, I think. Cool music too.
4. The Hand That Feeds
One of your classic NIN songs- full of life and more like a ‘proper’ rock song. You can’t help but dance/headbang along. If you don’t sing along, there’s something wrong with you-lol
5. Love Is Not Enough
Again, cool beat and drums here. Here, like most NIN songs, you get the post-apocalyptic feeling. “and underneath the not so tough..(no,no,no,no) love is not enough.” “I’ve gone all this f***ing way, just to end up back at- back at the start!”
6. Every Day Is Exactly The Same
I LOVE this song. Whether purposefully or not it’s just dripping with the themes of the book 1984. More song-y/mainstream in many ways than most of the stuff, it certainly has a good tune. Definitely worth a listen. ‘I believe I can see the future, cos I repeat the same routine.’ ‘I think I used to have a purpose. Then again, that might have been a dream. I thin I used to have a voice, now I never make a sound. I just do what I’ve been told: I really don’t want them to come around, oh no.’
7. With Teeth
Not my fave song again, but it has some great music in it. Stomping drums/percussion again and warped electronics. Gritty and dreamy.
8. Only
This song rocks. Utterly rocks (as does the video, if you find it on youtube. Nothing like animated office toys..) It’s got such a great beat, and I love the lyrics. Yet again, it’s made for singing/bopping along to.
‘I’m becoming less defined, as days go by. Fading away...well you might say I’m lo-sing focus...kinda drifting in the abstract of how I’ve come to see myself. Sometimes I think I can see right through myself: sometimes I think I can se right through myself; [whispers] sometimes I see right through myself.
Less concerned about fitting into the world: your world, that is.’
9. Getting Smaller
Another rocky faster song, great guitars(or electronics- either way it blares at you in rockiness). A song made for dancing/moshing about. Brilliant.
10. Sunspots
Back to your apocalyptic vibe. No-one does that ‘doomed’ feel like NIN (you just wait until the next album-lol)
11. The Line Begins To Blur
Same kinda stuff :3
12. Beside You In Time
Musically- this is awesome. The song starts of quiet, and you’re assaulted by a wave of sound in the middle. Really very good – like planets being born.
13. Right Where It Belongs
A very slow, somewhat depressing song, but still beautiful. Listen to the keyboard.
14. Home
I love this song too- great music, maybe a little more upbeat >< lol
15. Right Where It Belongs
The alternative version.
Quote:
Year zero
NIN takes post-apocalyptic to a whole new level, as you sit and listen to an alien (or is it angel) apocalypse. This screams 1984 and war of the worlds.
1. HYPERPOWER!
An instrumental track. Great music as well. Listen to the marching sounds of the armies, and the whole thing descend into the chaos, culminating in the screams of the people below and the roars of the forces attacking. The aliens have landed, and you’re there in the fray.
2. The Beginning of the End
A great lively-ish song with a great sound. This is the beginning of the end, but you seem to be pretty optimistic about it-lol
3. Survivalism
One of the singles- and a good choice for one. A stomping, defiant song with some funky voice effects.
‘I got my fist, I got my plan, I got survivalism!’
Reznor declares. Fight the system! (n’ all that-lol) – the video’s also worth a watch, though they edited out the gay sex in some versions (haha)
4. The Good Soldier
I love love love this song. And addictive beat/tune. You take on the role of a soldier. Hard to describe, but I love it and you have to listen to it. The soldier is marching through the battle, unsure of whether the side he’s on is just.
‘Gun-fire in the street, where we used to meet, echoes out of beat and the bass goes BOHM [cue awesome bass track], right over my head, step over the dead. Remember what you said – you know, the part about “life, is just a waking dream” well I now what you mean, but that ain’t how it seems right here right now. How can this be real? I can barely feel…anymore.’
5. Vessel
A rhythmic song I like ^_^
6. Me, I'm Not
It’s hard to describe this song. It’s just…Nin-lol. A bit odd in many respects, but really good too. Just listen -haha
7. Capital G
A great song. I love the music and Reznor seems to be having fun in singing it too. The lead character’s all arrogant pretending to be god (or something).
‘you push the but-ton and elected him to office and –uh! I push the but-ton and he dropped the bomb –ha-ha.’
‘..and he signs his name with a Capital G’
8. My Violent Heart
A creepy quiet song that erupts onto insane screeching electronics as the singer yells. Like you’re listening to a killer alien, or a guy turned over to the ‘dark side’ sotospeak.
9. The Warning
A great song, because it’s a narrative. It tells the story of aliens (or are they angels?) coming down to earth. If we don’t clean up our ways, they’ll ‘wipe this place clean’…
‘some say it was a warning...some say it was a sign. I was standing right there, when it came down form the sky.’
10. God Given
Cool voice effects again in this one, esp when they say ‘God given’ and ‘we’re the chosen ones’. :3
11. Meet Your Master
again coo music, cool voice effects, cool storyline to the song. Each of these songs seem to have their own story- different layers to this whole ‘alien invasion’ theme.
12. The Greater Good
13. The Great Destroyer
Another 1984/militaristic environment is created here. And you get the sense that the singer is somehow a prisoner in it imbued with special powers he’s a little afraid of (but isn’t fighting against). Very cool.
‘I hope they cannot see, the limitless potential, living inside of me, to murder everything. I hope they cannot see, I am the great destroyer.’
14. Another Version of the Truth
Another instrumental track (if I remember correctly)
15. In This Twilight
I love this song. Both quiet, optimistic, and bitter-sweet. Both sad and in an odd way happy. You join the singer in watching the world dissolve around him. Utterly resigned to his fate, you and he watch.
‘…And the black is really white, if you believe it. And the loneliness you feel, although none of this is real...we can find a better place in this twilight.”
16. Zero Sum
A whispery, musical but utterly involving song. You feel the world is really coming to an end here. If there’s one thing nine inch nails can do well, it’s musical poetry
Here’s all the lyrics to this song- enjoy
“They're starting to open up the sky, they're starting to reach down through.
And it feels like we're living in that split second of a car crash.
And time is slowing down, and if we only had a little more time
and this time
is all there is.
Do you remember the time we...?
And all the times we...?
And should have...?
And were going to...?
I know.
And I know you remember, how we could justify it all.
And we knew better; in our hearts... we knew better.
And we told ourselves it didn't matter.
And we chose to continue, and none of that matters anymore.
In the hour of our twilight...
And soon it will be all said and done, and we will all be back together, as one...
If we will continue at all.
Shame on us, doomed from the start
May God have mercy on our dirty little hearts
Shame on us for all we have done
And all we ever were. Just zeroes and ones
And you never get away, and you never get to take the easy way,
And all of this is a consequence, brought on by our own hand
If you believe in that sort of thing.
And did you ever really find, when you closed your eyes,
Any place that was still, and at peace?
And I guess I just wanted to tell you, as the light starts to fade,
That you are the reason… that I am not afraid.
And I guess I just wanted to mention, as the heavens will fall,
We will be together soon if we will be anything at all.
Shame on us, doomed from the start
May God have mercy on our dirty little hearts
Shame on us for all we have done
And all we ever were. Just zeroes and ones”
